The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-27
IN THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND.
The Administrations Surrender to the Cana
dian Pacific.

Boston Journal.
The mugwump and Democratic press has been
hard pushed to find the shadow of excuse for
the action of the administration in bonding the
Canadian Pacific railway in order that it might
compete on most advantageous terms with our
own trauscontinental lines which were bound
by the interstate-commerce act. Its attempt st
defense has been along two lines-frst, that
it was actually the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company, American concern, and not the
railway which was bonded; and. second, that
Secretary Fairchld has no discretion under the
law to withhold permission from u responsible
company to carry American goods in bond
through Canada from one American point
to another when security is offered to
protect the government. It is true
that the concession made directly ar fret
not to the Canadian Pacific, but to the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, which applied for it
in the summer of 1856, and again in March, 1887
Its actual status was. however, that of feeder
to the Canadian Pacific, and its interests in this
affair were clearly subordinate those of the
railway. The real anmus of the application
explicitly stated to be to enable the Canadi-
Pacific to compete with American roads for
transcontinental business. Secretary Fairchild,
seeking inform alton to his duties and powers
in this case was advised by Solicitor McCue
that he could bond the steamship line aud ad-
NIT the British political railway as favored
rival of our own Pacific roads or not as ne
purely discretionary. Mr.. McCue besides,
called attention to toe interstate-commerce law,
which had gone into force, restraining American
railroad lines from making their through rates
lover than their local charges. Thus Mr.. Fair
child was in a position where he could either
protect the Northern Pacific and other American
continental railroads from the ruinous COMPETE
ton of a subsidized and uuhampered foreign
rival or hand them over to It's tender mercies.
He would not have been true and consistent
member of the Cleveland Cabinet if he had not
adopted the latter course He went with the
Democratic tide and on May 20 the Canadian
Pacific admitted to American bust
ness, with its privileges enlarged that it
might transport goods from Puget sound and
San Francisco eastward toward any part of the
United States. Mr.. Fairchild can plead neither
ignorance coercion. He granted this privi-
open, understanding the circumstances OF
the request and the certain less it would
entail on American roads; as we'll as
the complete discretion which was his to
exercise President Cleveland upheld him in
his action. Mugwump and Democratic organs
may attempt to belittle this singular proceeding
Or deny it altogether according to the degree of
their party ZEAL bat it remains. for all that one
of the most colossal errors of this extraordinary
administration. The British political scheme,
which has for its purpose the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
imperial interests in the Pacific at the
cost of our own, the building mp of the Canadian
northwest and the forging of fresh chains
bind the uneasy Dominion to the mother
country, through the agency of military rail-
road across the continent aud a steamship line
from its terminus to China and Japan, was ad-
mirably timed. Shrewd and far-seeine British
statesmen at Ottawa and London have put a
ried in their demands. and liz most cases sue
ceeded in getting them granted What impu-
dent proposition they may next make remains
to be seen, but it is pretty certain, judging from
their success so far. that they need not fear a
refusal.